Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,342, Jonathan Emerson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Emerson, Jonathan
P. 3,342
CONTENTS

State of New Hampshire County of Hillsboroughs —
On this twenty eighth day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Probate of Wells &c. holden at Amherst within and for said County of Hillsborough, Jonathan Emerson, a President of Pelham in said County of Hillsborough, aged about 70 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he voluntarily enlisted into the Army of the United States, in the year A.D. 1780, on the ninth day of May, if he rightly recollects; as a Substitute for one Oliver Taylor of Dunstable in Massachusetts, where he then lived, as one of the six months levy, so called; in Captain Chambers Company, in Colonel Nelson's Regiment, and General Nelson's Brigade. That the Regiment to which he belonged, was called "the sixth Massachusetts Regiment." That soon after he enlisted, he started and went to Springfield, and there "passed muster," and from thence to West Point, and did duty there for several days. He then crossed the Hudson River, and marched with his Company to a place called "Gallows Hill," where he staid a number of days; when orders came to march to a place called "Stoney Point," to which place he marched with his company, crossing the River at "King's Ferry." While on their march it was excessively hot, so much so, that two of the men belonging to his Regiment died, in consequence of drinking cold water. That they left this place, pursuant to orders, and marched to a place called Peramius , in the Jersey Country, where they staid a few days & were ordered to march to a place called "English Neighborhood" or "Orange Town" That he had a permit to go into the Country to procure provisions, which were then very scanty in the detachment to which he belonged, and on his route he saw Major Andre executed. That afterwards his company marched to West Point, where the time for which he enlisted expired, and he was honorably discharged the service, as will appear by the annexed Discharge. He further states that he served his Country in the Revolutionary war at this time seven months . That he was born in Salem in the County of Rockingham in the State of New Hampshire, on the 9 th day of September A.D. 1762, and that there is a record of his birth in said Salem, & that he also has a family record where the time of his birth is recorded. At the time he enlisted into the service as aforesaid he lived in Dunstable aforesaid - and that he has since lived in various places until about twelve years since when he removed into Pelham aforesaid, where he has since lived, and lives there at the present time.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an Annuity, kept the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Colman Parker, Judge of Probate (on a Beman)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states
Colman Parker, Judge of Probate
I Charles H. Atherton Register and Clerk of the Court of Probate for the said County of Hillsborough. Certify that the foregoing contains the original Proceedings of the said Court in the application for a Pension of the said Jonathan Emerson.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed the seal of the said Court of Probate at Amherst in said County this 28 th day of August Anno Domini 1832.
C. H. Atherton Register.

916 3
Jonathan Emerson
M c E
see letter 16 June 1834 to Hon. J. Hill.
on Roll enrolled 3 July 1780 - 6 months disb d 9 Dec 1780 -
5 mo & 6 day
Repetee
21 Nov 1832
L. M. Richardson Pelham NH

9163  BRIEF in the case of  Jonathan Emerson Pelham  vs. William C.  in the State of  New Hampshire  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? absent
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     1780 - 9 May 1812 8 Substitute Genl. Capt Chamber Col. Nixon  
5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Dunstable Mass
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
a discharge
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. C. Easton
Examining Clerk.

EMERSON, JONATHAN (MASS.) R-3342
Emerson Jonathan Mass.

Jonathan Emerson, A Six Months Service in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment in consequence of the expiration of his time of service, hereby certifies that he has been honorably discharged from the service and is now under my hands in Quarters at West Point the 9th day of December A.D. 1860 I hereby Col. Com.

West Point Dec. 9 th 1780.
This certifieth that there is due to For d Emerson late a soldier of the 6 th Mass s . Reg t Sixteen Dollars ten ninetieths in the old, and twenty-eight Dollars sixty ninetieths in the new Bills, which I promise to pay him on sight when the same is received by me from the publick.
+ B. Heywood — Capt. V.P.M.
+ Supposed B. Heywood

The original, of which the within is a true copy, now in the possession of said Emerson, goes to prove that he served 7 months. The due bill was all he used for his services —

Salem New Hampshire
June 4. 1834
Sir. In behalf of Jonathan Emerson of Pelham in the County of Hillsborough in the State of New Hampshire, one of the few surviving veterans of the Revolution, I write to you -- Since Emerson states, that some time in the latter part of May 1780 he enlisted, as a soldier in the Army of the Revolution for the term of six months, and joined the Company commanded by Capt. Chambers in the 6 th Massachusetts Regiment, commanded by Gen. Nixon -- that at the time of his enlistment, he was a resident of Dunstable in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and that from the said time of his enlistment he continued in said service performing the duties of a faithful soldier, until the 9 th day of December 1780, having served six full months being the term for which he had enlisted, and on said 9 th Dec r he received a written discharge signed by Daniel Whiting Lieut. Col. of said Regiment for said 6 mo. service at a place called West Point in the State of New York. -- He further states, that some time in the month of June or July 1833, he appeared before a Court of record in Amherst in said State of New Hampshire and made oath to his application for a pension, and that his declaration together with his original discharge , above referred to, were transmitted to your department, in order to obtain a certificate to enjoy the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. For about one year last past, he has been anxiously waiting to receive a pension Certificate , but as yet his hopes and desire have been disappointed. Whether there has been any misdirection of his papers, as I had not charge of his business, or any deficiency therein agreeable to your prescribed rules, I know not. -- He was told that his case was a clear  clear one, and entertained no doubt, that a certificate would be forwarded to him in due time.

I would observe to you Honor. that I take great pleasure in render- =ing any assistance in my power to aid those, who participated in the toils and dangers of the Revolution, & who are justly entitled to the benefits of said act, to obtain even at this late hour, when their lamp of life is almost extinguished, the small compensation, which may be due to them from a prosperous, independent and happy nation. Said Emerson further states, that he never recd. a single cent. directly, nor indirectly, for revolutionary services - that his health was seriously impaired, while in the Army. - I am personally acquainted with said Emerson, he is considered a man of good reputation for truth & veracity. - he is very poor aged and infirm, not able to labour. and appears to be among one of the unfortunate number of those, who are destitute of children or other connection, that are able to render him much if any assistance in his present unfortunate situation - Will you have the goodness to cause the matter of the above named applicant to be immediately attended to, and after examination, should a certificate be issued, you will please to forward it to me, and I will see that he has it without delay - Confiding Sir in the ability, integrity, and dispatch, with which business is conducted in the Pension Department, I have the fullest confidence, that I shall receive in due time a Pension certificate, for said Emerson, for whom I seriously and conscien- tiously intercede, which will tend in some measure to relieve his intellectual wants and drooping spirits -
Yours (Sir) with high consideration of esteem & respect. &c David W. Dickey.
Hon. Lewis Cass.

Jonathan Emerson
June 14 June 5 John N. P. Pension Office, 25 Hon. Lewis Cass
N.H.
Secretary of War. City of Washington

Senate Chamber, Washington, June 14, 1834.
J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Dear Sir, I herewith enclose a letter I have this morning received from the accompanying letter from D. W. Dickey, Esq. relative to the papers of Jonathan Emerson of Pulham. Will you cause these papers to be examined for final decision, and give me the result? Likewise return me Mr. Dickey's letter.
I am, respectfully, sir,
Your obedt servant, Thos Hill

9163
Jonathan Emerson
properly attached to the candidate.
Under the seal of office of the returning officer, as to prevent any paper, document or candidate, must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the seal of which is written on the same sheet of paper, which contains the affidavit, or other paper, unless otherwise provided. In every instance where the candidate, or the returning officer who acknowledged the paper, is not of the magistrate and is entitled by the provisions of the act to a copy of the paper.
For the oath must certify to the eligibility of the candidate, and the amount of the sum, as well as the regiment, company, and the time at which he paid it. The candidate, who may, at the time of the election, be serving in the field, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the case where the name of the regiment is not found on the records of the Department. In JOURNAL XIV. No. 1. of 1861.
Declarations, and all such qualifying examinations, etc.
The provisions and the length of the service. The use of the phrase "for a term of years" is not and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the position to be paid according to the rank of the service.
It is important in all cases to determine with precision, the period for which the applicant served.
L. M. Richardson Pelham N.H.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Emerson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
No
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
[Handwritten flourish]
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
[Handwritten flourish]
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
No as to 5 th
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Ex'r.
OLD WAR
No. 3342
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
Jonathan Emerson
P. O. NH
Service: Revolutionary
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
Recognized.